F-ing mice!!!

[Kalevera]

I was doing an inspection II on an E46 325Xi a few days ago.

These have three underbody protection panels (plastic undercovers). The car came in covered in snow, although I'd taken it down the road to warm the oil up a bit. Got it in the air and started the draining ritual, removed a few leaves I saw up around the core support.

After about two hours of work, the floor was pretty much a mess and the car was still dripping. I happened to look down and noticed an odd shaped "leaf" on the floor, one with a tail and legs. Turned out to be pancaked mouse. Totally flattened like Wile E. Coyote after the road runner dropped a load of boulders on him. There was other evidence around the engine bay. My theory is that he fell into one of the serpentines and got smashed, then fell out on my head as I removed the covers, and turned brown in the wet nastiness on the floor.




When storing an E34/E32/E31: the recirc flaps always stay open, which allows rodents to essentially gain access to the cabin of the car, and notoriously nest in the heater box. I find mice nests in practically every single heater box I see on aforementioned cars. One thing to do is, prior to storing the car, turn on recirculation, then disconnect the battery. The flaps will stay closed (versus automatically reopening after the car/recirc is turned off).


best, whit

[Alexlind123]

I was doing an inspection II on an E46 325Xi a few days ago.

These have three underbody protection panels (plastic undercovers). The car came in covered in snow, although I'd taken it down the road to warm the oil up a bit. Got it in the air and started the draining ritual, removed a few leaves I saw up around the core support.

After about two hours of work, the floor was pretty much a mess and the car was still dripping. I happened to look down and noticed an odd shaped "leaf" on the floor, one with a tail and legs. Turned out to be pancaked mouse. Totally flattened like Wile E. Coyote after the road runner dropped a load of boulders on him. There was other evidence around the engine bay. My theory is that he fell into one of the serpentines and got smashed, then fell out on my head as I removed the covers, and turned brown in the wet nastiness on the floor.




When storing an E34/E32/E31: the recirc flaps always stay open, which allows rodents to essentially gain access to the cabin of the car, and notoriously nest in the heater box. I find mice nests in practically every single heater box I see on aforementioned cars. One thing to do is, prior to storing the car, turn on recirculation, then disconnect the battery. The flaps will stay closed (versus automatically reopening after the car/recirc is turned off).


best, whit

I was always under the impression that the buzzing after shutting the car off was the flaps closing, i guess not.

[Kalevera]

Those are the servos in the heater box itself/that direct where the air should go within the cabin. The recirc flaps essentially separate the world from the blower motor, which is essentially on top of the evaporator....unless there's a microfilter between the two. The recirc servo is really quiet. It was only by observation that I realized the car would open them again after being turned off with recirc on.

I'm not saying that this will prevent a determined rodent from getting in the heater box/cabin, but it certainly should help things out...

best, whit

[zuzuk212]

I think that one got into mine ... when the previous owner had it. The problem is it got in via the vents in the trunk! Chewed on the plastic so that it could squeeze in. So, the recirc. will keep them out of the front but you will have to do something more about the vents in the back.

Any ideas whit?

Ken

[mancini_mark]

Well, I haven't seen my car since I pulled it into the garage. I'll go there this weekend. Bloody ventilation system! I bet those bastards would even chew through the recirc. Unless it's metal.

At least I took out the back seat and trunk material. I couldn't find any mice anywhere, and at least they didn't chew up my seats. I think now that the car is in the garage and smelling like mothballs, the mice will find somewhere more comfortable...like some of my parents' old furniture in the garage.

Thanks all,

mark

[dacoyote]

....

When storing an E34/E32/E31: the recirc flaps always stay open, which allows rodents to essentially gain access to the cabin of the car, and notoriously nest in the heater box. I find mice nests in practically every single heater box I see on aforementioned cars. One thing to do is, prior to storing the car, turn on recirculation, then disconnect the battery. The flaps will stay closed (versus automatically reopening after the car/recirc is turned off).


best, whit

Thanks for the tip... I store my e34 for the winter... I will have to go do that next time I am out there....